Canada draws Czech Republic 0:0 as Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games preparation continue

Canada
​delivered a strong performance but was not able to find the back of the net in a
​0:0 draw against Czech Republic in Cartagena, Spain. This first of two Women’s
​International Friendly matches was part of Canada Soccer’s Women’s National
​Team preparations for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and saw Canada use all five
​substitutes with Bianca St-George making her international debut.

“We got the
​clean sheet and in the grand scheme of things this will push us on to the next match.
​If we want to change the colour of the medal we’ve got to look after the ball
​more and we have to finish the chances. We had some good chances but we’ve got
​to convert,” said Bev Priestman, Women’s National Team Head Coach. “We want to
​turn the table on that Brazil result we had (at SheBelieves Cup). I think it
​will be a very exciting game and should feel like an Olympic Games fixture,
​that level of opposition, so I’m excited.”

Canada will
​next face Brazil at Estadio Cartagonova on Monday 14 June at 21:00 local (15:00
​ET / 12:00 PT), with a live broadcast on OneSoccer. Throughout the June window,
​Canadian fans will find extended coverage across Canada Soccer’s digital channels
​on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter featuring the social media hashtag
​#CANWNT.

“As a centreback
​and being defensively-minded, I’m very happy that we got a clean sheet,” said
​Kadeisha Buchanan before turning her attention to the Brazil match. “Recognizing
​our abilities and capabilities, we do have time and can take care of the ball,
​we’ll need to keep the ball from Brazil and finish our chances.”

In the first
​half, Canada created multiple opportunities and maintained the pressure. In the
​10’, Gabrielle Carle had the first opportunity for Canada, but her
​shot was just wide. A few minutes later, Adriana Leon brought the ball into the
​box, but her effort was blocked. Czech Republic had an opportunity a few
​minutes later in the 15’, but Franny Crena’s shot went out for a goal kick.

In the 24’, Carle
​sent the ball through to Sinclair, who tried to bring the ball into the box. On
​the deflection, Jessie Fleming got a shot on goal, but Czech Republic
​goalkeeper Barbora Votikoba made the save.

In the 38’,
​Canada once again played through into the Czech Republic box as Nichelle Prince
​found Sinclair whose left-foot shot was blocked by a defender. On the rebound,
​Prince’s shot went over the bar. In the last minute of the half Adriana Leon
​had another opportunity when she found herself in front of the net with the
​ball after a cross from Prince before she was called for a foul.

In the second
​half, Canada continued their momentum and pressured the Czech Republic to try
​to break the deadlock. In the 50’, Fleming played a deft pass to Leon who tried
​unsuccessfully to find some space, and Schmidt eventually got the shot away,
​but it went over the bar.

After a pair
​of substitutions at the 57’, second-half substitute Jordyn Huitema had a chance
​with a header on Ashley Lawrence’s cross near the back post, but her attempt
​went wide. Kadeisha Buchanan’s 82’ header off a Canadian corner was saved by
​the goalkeeper.

Deanne Rose had
​Canada’s best opportunity in the 85’ as Ashley Lawrence played a brilliant pass
​through the box. It was just missed by Viens and continued through to Rose who
​fired the ball into the side netting.

​Canada had a chance late after a handball call just outside of the box in injury
​time. Jessie Fleming and second -half substitute Julia Grosso stood over the free
​kick and Fleming hit the set piece into the wall and out for a corner.

“It was a
​hard-fought performance. We knew coming into this game that it was going to be a
​physical battle and I thought we left it all out there and created a lot of
​chances,” said Ashley Lawrence

Canada’s
​starting XI featured Stephanie Labbé in goal, Jayde Riviere at right back,
​Vanessa Gilles and Kadeisha Buchanan at centre back, Gabrielle Carle at left
​back, and Sophie Schmidt, Ashley Lawrence, Jessie Fleming, Nichelle Prince,
​Christine Sinclair, and Adriana Leon from the midfield up through to the
​attack. In the second half, coach Bev Priestman replaced Prince with Jordyn
​Huitema (46’), Leon with Deanne Rose and Carle with Julia Grosso (57’),
​Sinclair with Evelyne Viens (65’), and Bianca St-Georges for Riviere (80’).

OLYMPIC MEDAL
​WINNERS & CONCACAF CHAMPIONS

Canada are
​two-time Olympic bronze medal winners (2012 and 2016) and two-time Concacaf
​champions (1998 and 2010). In all, Canada have participated in seven consecutive
​editions of the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ (1995 to 2019) and three consecutive
​editions of the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament (2008 to 2016). At Rio
​2016, Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team were the first Canadian Olympic
​team to win back-to-back medals at a summer Olympic Games in more than a
​century.

Canada
​Soccer’s Women’s National Youth Teams, meanwhile, have won four Concacaf youth titles:
​the 2004 and 2008 Concacaf Women’s Under-20 Championship, the 2010 Concacaf
​Women’s Under-17 Championship, and the 2014 Concacaf Girls’ Under-15
​Championship. Canada have qualified for seven editions of the FIFA U-20 Women’s
​World Cup (including a silver medal at Canada 2002) and all six editions of the
​FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup (including a fourth-place finish at Uruguay 2018).